Campaign Resources

Every campaign has a reason behind it with an aim to improve and positively change a perceived problem. Start by asking:

What is the issue?

Who does this affect?

Why is it a problem?

Try asking the people affected by the issue to gain knowledge and understanding around the issue. You could gather information through surveys. opinion polls, talking directly, national statistics or student advice. This makes sure that you have correctly identified the issue and also strengthens your campaign when lobbying.

Research

It is important to research your campaign to make sure you have a full understanding of the topic and gather ideas of how to solve the issue. It also provides the answers to questions the opposition may ask you.

Look at what other Unions/Universities have done

Google forms are great for gathering feedback; they even collect the data and create graphs

Reference any information you want to use in your promotional material - this adds credibility to your campaign

Research all areas of the topic you are campaigning about

Ask for help from a friend, tutor, or someone at HUU!

Help is always available at Hull University Union, just email [email protected] or drop by

In order to create a successful campaign, you will need to create a campaign plan with aims and objectives. Breaking down your aim into small goals can make a large and daunting task feel achievable. Completing small objectives keeps morale high and builds momentum towards the overall goal.

Clear and concise objectives help keep a campaign on track and measure how successful the end result is. Be SMART:

Specific - Remain focused on the core issues with specific objectives

Measurable – Make your target measurable so you can evaluate the success of your campaign

Achievable - Be realistic when setting your goals. Make sure you have enough time and resources!

Resources – People to help with your campaign, staff support, promotion

Time Based - Set deadlines for objectives to ensure you stay on track

If you are doing a campaign to raise awareness, there needs to be a clear measure of awareness before and after the campaign. This could be done through surveys, questionnaires or asking verbally.

Lobby

To Lobby is to influence the decision maker to create the change you are campaigning for. Whether you know the decision maker determines your style of lobbying - insider lobbying is when you know the decision maker and can target your campaign, outsider is when you don't.

How to lobby

Be specific - Ask them to DO something

Consider timing - Think about elections, exams and public events

Encourage and empower - Suggest that other people contact who you are lobbying to build interest

Keep up the pressure - Create a rolling stream of correspondence from your supporters. Keep them updated!

Personal - Share your experience of the issue

Target - Find out their interests and responsibilities and tailor your argument

Media - Use social media to keep updated and also contact local papers/radio and television

Alliances - Find people in positions of power and get them to publically support you

Promotion
You can promote your campaign through posters, flyers, banners, and social media. Remember you can also contact the Union newspaper, TV station and Radio show as well local newspapers, Radio and TV stations. When promoting your campaign it is important to have the same voice and design throughout all media outlets, this helps make the campaign look more professional and memorable. Plan your campaign coverage and build up towards main events and announcements of your campaign. Hull University Unions’ marketing team are more than happy to advise, email [email protected]

Plan

What are you trying to change?

How can you use the media to do this?

Which outlets are you going to target?

What would be a good media hook?

What do you need to make the hook?

Key Messages

Identify the single most important idea

Keep it simple

Make it memorable

Relate to the real world

Highlight the benefits

Design

Research your design and try to have a reason behind it - this will help make your message clear.

Sketch some initial ideas for a logo or use an eye catching image. Ask a friend for help or try using free online software

Be consistent with colour, font and layout – this makes it look more professional and unified

Make your message clear and to the point

Posters, flyers, t-shirts and banners are effective methods of promotion and delivering a clear message. Make sure you target areas that the relevant people will see. Booking stalls to engage with the public is a great way to inform and promote your campaign. Make sure there is a clear purpose such as gathering feedback, promoting an event or petition signing.

Social Media
Social media can be a powerful and cost effective tool for sharing your campaign message. Consistency is vital in helping to brand your campaign especially when using more than one platform.

It’s important to get your branding right so that your social media is simple and attractive. Make sure you have a header/cover photo, small bio and profile picture – ideally featuring your logo and tagline.

The most effective promotional and marketing campaigns have a schedule that build up to a main event. To keep posts in a consistent voice and reduce work, schedule the week’s posts in advance. There are plenty of free online scheduling services that will publish posts across all social media platforms meaning less work and more results.

Pictures are eye catching and quotes/facts/figures can be interesting and make your campaign more credible.

Remember to double check everything you post! Make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Beware of hashtags, make sure the post has the appropriate amount for the site.

Evaluation

Keep evaluating throughout your campaign! Check-in every week and review what you have done, what was successful and what you can improve on. Then feed this back to your campaign team. This will help keep your campaign on target and also act as a morale boost for supporters.

Once your campaign is complete Hull University Union will be in contact to gather feedback and see how your campaign went. For more information on how to apply for funding, visit What about money?